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D2C Peptides
Semax vial

Semax 5 mg

Sold as Semax 5mg

$35 In stock

Strength

For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.

Ships from Canada. Shipping details

Semax is a lab-made peptide of 7 amino acids (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro): positions 4 to 7 of the hormone ACTH with a Pro-Gly-Pro tail added.12 Russia lists it among its vital and essential drugs and uses it for neurological conditions.3 It is not FDA-approved.4 Each vial holds 5 mg of freeze-dried (lyophilized) powder.5

Specifications

Sequence (three-letter code)Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro1
Sequence (one-letter code)MEHFPGP1
Molecular formulaC37H51N9O10S2
Molar mass813.9 g/mol2
CAS number80714-61-01
PubChem CID98111022
Other namesACTH (4-7), Pro-Gly-Pro- (PubChem record title); ACTH(4-7)PGP26
FormFreeze-dried (lyophilized) powder, per the supplier's specification5
Vial contents5 mg per vial
Strength5 mg
Ships fromCanada
StorageSemax contains methionine, and GenScript notes that peptides with methionine oxidize easily, so it advises tightly capped vials with little air exposure, kept at -20 °C away from bright light.71 The supplier's own storage notes conflict, listing room temperature for unmixed vials alongside a 36-month shelf life at -20 °C.8

Supplies for Semax

Bulk and wholesale orders

Research groups that need Semax in larger quantities can apply for a wholesale account, with volume terms set on application.

Wholesale detailsApply for a wholesale account

Questions about Semax

About Semax

Semax is a heptapeptide, a chain of 7 amino acids, designed as an analog of the ACTH(4-10) fragment of the hormone ACTH.16 Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences synthesize and study it, and Russian papers describe it as a drug used in stroke therapy.17 This listing offers it as a 5 mg research vial.

Its human research is Russian, and a 2026 review notes that this record lacks independent validation and systematic safety surveillance under Western regulatory frameworks.18 Read What is Semax? for the mechanism research, the full study list and side effects.

Research highlights

  • Rats (2006): a single dose raised hippocampal BDNF protein up to 1.4-fold and activation of its receptor, TrkB, 1.6-fold, and treated rats made more conditioned avoidance responses in a learning test.16
  • Rats (2006): labeled Semax reached the brain within 2 minutes of a nasal dose and was rapidly broken down, mostly to the tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro.19
  • Stroke rehabilitation, 110 adults (2018): Semax raised blood BDNF regardless of when rehabilitation started, and Semax with high BDNF went with faster improvement; the abstract does not describe randomization.2021
  • Motor neuron disease, 27 adults (2007, open-label): no effect on nerve denervation measures or clinical scores, but a better overall quality-of-life score.1222
  • Healthy adults, 24 people (2018, placebo-controlled): 5 and 20 minutes after one nasal dose, the 14 given Semax showed a larger medial frontal part of the brain's default mode network on fMRI than the 10 given placebo.13
  • Rodents (2005): Semax alone left dopamine unchanged but strongly amplified the dopamine release caused by D-amphetamine.23

Regulatory status

Semax is not FDA-approved.4 FDA's page on compounding substances that may present significant safety risks lists Semax (heptapeptide) among category 2 nominations withdrawn by their nominators, citing possible immune reactions and limited safety information.249 On July 24, 2026, FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee discussed Semax for cerebral ischemia, migraine and trigeminal neuralgia.25 A law firm's summary of the meeting reports that the committee recommended adding Semax to the 503A bulks list.26 Such votes are non-binding, and FDA's meeting page showed no minutes or vote results when checked on October 25, 2026.2625 WADA's 2026 Prohibited List does not name Semax.28 A 2025 review rated its status unclear because of its similarity to tetracosactide, a banned S2 substance, while a 2026 review says WADA prohibits it.2729

Handling and storage

The supplier ships Semax as freeze-dried powder, without bacteriostatic water.58 GenScript does not recommend keeping peptides in solution; when it cannot be avoided, it suggests a pH 5 to 6 buffer, single-use aliquots at -20 °C and no repeated freeze-thaw cycles.7 The reconstitution guide covers the lab steps, and how to store peptides covers freezer and fridge storage.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get Semax over the counter?

Not as a US medicine.4 Semax is not FDA-approved, so no prescription or over-the-counter Semax drug exists in the US.4 In Russia it is on the national list of vital and essential drugs.3 This page lists Semax for sale only as a 5 mg research vial for laboratory work, and FDA lists Semax among compounding substances flagged for safety risks.9

What is the Semax price?

The Semax price starts at $35 for the 5 mg vial, and the stock status shows at the top of the page before checkout. Bacteriostatic water is not included and is sold separately.8 Research groups ordering in volume can apply through the wholesale program. Delivery details are on the shipping page, and return terms on the returns page.

How should Semax be stored when it arrives?

Freeze-dried peptides travel well at room temperature, according to Bachem, which recommends freezer storage for the long term and allows a 4 °C refrigerator for short-term use.10 Let a cold vial reach room temperature before opening it, because peptides pull water from the air.1011 GenScript lists glutamic acid and histidine, both found in Semax, among the amino acids that make peptides absorb moisture.71

Is there a certificate of analysis for Semax?

The lab results page explains what testing documentation the store provides. Check which tests a certificate reports, not only HPLC purity: FDA names aggregation and peptide-related impurities as the reasons compounded Semax may trigger immune reactions.9 Purity and content also differ, since Bachem notes that peptide powders may hold only 70 to 90% peptide by weight, the rest being counter-ions and water.11

What supplies are used with a Semax vial?

Bench work with a freeze-dried vial typically uses bacteriostatic water or another diluent, a 3 mL Luer-Lok syringe and alcohol swabs. The reconstitution calculator handles the concentration math. The Russian human studies that name the form used a ready-made 1% nasal solution, so they offer no mixing steps.1213

Is Semax for human use?

No. Every vial is labeled: For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Semax is not FDA-approved, and FDA says it has no, or only limited, safety information for the routes proposed for compounded Semax.49 A ClinicalTrials.gov search in October 2026 found no Semax study.14 In 2025, Health Canada named Semax among unauthorized injectable peptides it warned the public about.15

Written by D2C Peptides Editorial Team.

Pending qualified review.

Updated .

Sources

  1. PubChem synonyms for CID 9811102 (Semax). PubChem, NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. PubChem compound properties for 'semax' (CID 9811102). PubChem, NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  3. The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivative for Correcting Pathological Impairments in the Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease (PMC12755871) (introduction). Acta Naturae (PMC full text), 2025.
  4. Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging (PMC13095733) (regulatory status). Frontiers in Aging (PMC full text), 2026.
  5. Supplier product specification.
  6. Novel Insights into the Protective Properties of ACTH(4-7)PGP (Semax) Peptide at the Transcriptome Level Following Cerebral Ischaemia-Reperfusion in Rats (PMC7350263). Genes (Basel) (PMC full text), 2020.
  7. Peptide Storage and Handling Guidelines. GenScript.
  8. Same source as 5.
  9. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (Semax (heptapeptide) entry). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  10. Handling and Storage Guidelines for Peptides (Peptide Guide, chapter 8). Bachem.
  11. Care and Handling of Peptides. Bachem, 2021.
  12. The study of chronic partial denervation and quality of life in patients with motor neuron disease treated with semax [PMID 18379501] (design and dose). Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2007.
  13. Effects of Semax on the Default Mode Network of the Brain [PMID 30225715]. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2018.
  14. ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 search: studies with Semax as an intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  15. Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks (RA-77807). Health Canada, 2025.
  16. Semax, an analog of ACTH(4-10) with cognitive effects, regulates BDNF and trkB expression in the rat hippocampus [PMID 16996037]. Brain Research (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2006.
  17. The peptide semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia: genome-wide transcriptional analysis (PMC3987924) (background and authorship). BMC Genomics (PMC full text), 2014.
  18. Same source as 4: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging (PMC13095733) (safety evidence).
  19. Kinetics of Semax penetration into the brain and blood of rats after its intranasal administration [PMID 16523722]. Bioorganicheskaia Khimiia (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2006.
  20. The efficacy of semax in the treatment of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke [PMID 29798983] (patients and regimen). Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2018.
  21. Same source as 20: The efficacy of semax in the treatment of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke [PMID 29798983] (results).
  22. Same source as 12: The study of chronic partial denervation and quality of life in patients with motor neuron disease treated with semax [PMID 18379501] (results).
  23. Semax, an ACTH(4-10) analogue with nootropic properties, activates dopaminergic and serotoninergic brain systems in rodents [PMID 16362768]. Neurochemical Research (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2005.
  24. Same source as 9: Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks ('Bulk drug substances nominated but withdrawn' section).
  25. July 23-24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee. US Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  26. FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Six Peptides for Compounding: What the Evaluation Criteria Tell Us About the Road Ahead. Bass, Berry and Sims PLC (law firm publication), 2026.
  27. "Brain doping" substances: prohibited or not in sports? (PMC12492343). Biology of Sport (PMC full text), 2025.
  28. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), 2025.
  29. Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions: Effects, Safety, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026.
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